Dirty Switch

Joo Yoonwoo, who had been just about ready to flip the desk in fury, blinked blankly instead.
The eldest son of Pungjin Industries? No way…

“…Kim Seungjun?”
“Tsk, tsk. You call another family’s precious eldest son like he’s some mangy mutt? No wonder you’re still single with that mouth. Yes, I met young Mr. Kim before the article hit.”
Kang Bunam puffed his neck stiffly with pride, awkwardly trying to cross his sausage-thick legs. He radiated that smugness of someone thinking: I knew first, and you were totally in the dark, weren’t you?

“Spare me that crap about the drug being legal in those Western countries. Listen here—I’m not just speaking as family. As a shareholder of DH Group, I find this whole situation deeply regrettable. Therefore, let’s just say… yes! I came here to file a proper complaint to prevent any future incidents.”
Haah.
As Kang Bunam continued his goddamn monologue, Yoonwoo closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She had wondered why that asshole from Pungjin Industries had suddenly decided to spread a completely baseless rumor. So this was the endgame.
The combined stake of Bunam and the other side-branch relatives was barely anything. Last she checked, it didn’t even amount to 2%. HQ also regularly monitored them to prevent exactly this kind of nonsense.
But if external forces like Kim Seungjun—and the Crown Prince backing him—started joining hands out of pure spite for DH Group…

Then it would be a different story.
Especially when you factored in the complicated web of in-laws and marriage alliances involving her older brothers. The variables multiplied fast.
Still, it wasn’t like some billion-won slush fund scandal had exploded. A company with a solid control structure wouldn’t collapse over this kind of drama. It just meant more work for people who were already too damn busy.

And that’s the problem—people get hurt.
Suggesting drug screening and psychiatric evaluation for Joo Taehyun, a shareholder and heir, because of suspicion over controlled substances? Publicly, no less? And the Switch wasn’t even a real drug. It was a compatibility aid for physical intimacy between carriers, and only a small portion had effects resembling narcotics.
With the way people already treated carriers like freaks, what would the press do with this? Her baby brother, only twenty-six, would be plagued by scandal and humiliation for the rest of his life.

“Baby, do you really have to go through with this marriage? I hate to sound like a buzzkill, but… I’m just so upset.”
“Haha, did you read the comments or something? I told you not to look at that stuff.”
“No, seriously, what is wrong with people in Pyongyang? Some guy seven years older snatches up a kid and moves in with him, and they’re all obsessed with defending that Seo bastard?”

No amount of money could mend a broken heart. Her younger brother always denied it, but Yoonwoo had often glimpsed the kind of irreversible sorrow that lived behind Taehyun’s eyes. She might not be the best sister, but she sure as hell wasn’t going to add to his scars.
“In any case, don’t think you can just sweep this under the rug. I’ll be calling Representative Seo Hongkyu about this, just so you know.”
Maybe he thought he’d just won the debate, because Kang Bunam let out a loud, pompous cough and pushed back his chair with a flourish. He grumbled about not even being offered a cup of coffee, but his voice was full of delight.
“Secretary Choi. Call up the legal team. Not the ones from our affiliates—the holding company side.”

“If I may, Chairwoman, if this is a personal matter—”
“No, it’s not. This is company business. Consider it official.”
Yoonwoo threw down the bag she had packed for the day and swept a hand through her hair. Sure, she’d been born with a silver spoon in her mouth—but she didn’t coast her way to this position. The construction, leisure, and retail divisions that even male executives couldn’t handle? She had them locked down. Maybe it was time to show these decrepit old fools exactly why.

“…Phew. Including today’s recording, assess how much it would cost to press criminal charges against Kang Bunam for harassment. Also check how many media outlets we can draw in.”
“Pardon? Ah—yes, ma’am!”
“And I don’t care whether the recording holds up as evidence. That’s not the point. The goal is to make sure creeps like that can never walk around flapping their gums about being a ‘relative’ or ‘extended family’ in front of me—or any of us—ever again.”

She stopped clicking through a folder on her personal laptop and threw Secretary Choi a sharp glance. Her head stayed locked on the monitor, but her eyes flicked upward with a glint that was downright menacing.
“Call Director Seo Baekhan to Seoul. Not immediately—sometime next week or the one after. Make sure Taehyun doesn’t find out.”
* * *

“Young master, are you sure you’re alright?”
“I’m fine—hm, fine.”
Even with an ice pack on his swollen eyes, there wasn’t ⊛ Nоvеlιght ⊛ (Read the full story) a soul alive who’d believe him if he said not to worry.

“I’ll go with this outfit. And for shoes… I think the ones I wore to the Jejungwon year-end event would be best.”
“But… No, understood.”
The attendant helping him dress trailed off and backed away.

Taehyun wasn’t oblivious. Those shoes looked great, sure—but they squeezed his feet so tightly that even a short ride in the car made them swell. Given his current condition, he should absolutely avoid them.
But today’s academic event at Pyongyang University was major. Prominent figures from all over were expected, including Prince Yi Hwang and his consort.
After the disaster at the Yeonhwagung banquet, he had to be perfect today. Flawless. Not just as Director Seo Baekhan’s partner—but also as the youngest heir of DH Group.

Cough. Where’s hyung…?
“Ah, I heard he left work early today. He’s on his way here now.”
“…Why? Tell him to just go straight to the university. The lab’s basically across the street.”

Taehyun covered his mouth and turned away with a weak murmur. All the attendants were Betas, so there shouldn’t be any issues—but every breath he exhaled still carried Baekhan’s scent, and it was mortifying.
From Friday night until early this morning, they had been physically together. Today was Tuesday morning… which meant he had basically been under Baekhan’s mercy for nearly four straight days.